The Summer Of Us (Discontinued)

Chapter Twelve

I quickly turn around, once tightening the towel around my small body.

It was Ethan and Jay. 

"Woah." Ethan said raising his eyebrows with a smile, looking me up and down. "Didn't know cleaning ladies can walk around naked. I think I can get use to this."

I shook my head. "Oh no, I uh... I was just looking for some Advil."

"In a towel?" Jay questioned.

"I took a shower here. I kind of crashed here after the party." I explained.

"Oh." Ethan said, continuing to stare at me for another couple of seconds before walking over and opening the cabinet for me, pulling out the Advil and setting it on the counter next to me before he leaned against it. "Just don't let Diana know."

"Yeah, she'll have a fit." Jay continued.

"Who's Diana?" I asked taking an empty glass and filling it with water before taking a couple pills and chasing them down with a big gulp of water.

"Tucker's girlfriend." Ethan said.

Right. I completely forgot that Tucker had a girlfriend.

I furrowed my eyebrows. "Why would I let her know? I don't even know her."

"Well, she's joining us for a trip to the beach." He continued. "And you should be lucky that it was us that walked in and saw you first. If she saw you with only a towel on in Tucker's house, you'd have no time to explain."

"Well, I hope you all have fun at the beach." I smiled as I began to walk away.

"Wait!" Ethan said. I stopped in my tracks, spinning on my heels to face him.

"Yes?" 

"You should join us. It'll be a lot of fun." He suggested.

Oh no.

"I uh..." I trailed off thinking of an excuse. "I don't want to be a problem."

"You wont be a problem, in fact, the more the merrier." Jay said.

"I don't think--"

"Please." Ethan begged. "I don't want to stand around and watch hour long make-out sessions between Diana and Tucker."

I couldn't help but to laugh. His heavy accent was hard to say no to. "Sure. Let me just go get ready first."

They both nodded. I continued upstairs into my room before closing the door. Luckily, I packed a bathing suit. It was a strapless two piece with a floral pattern. I threw it on along with a pair of jean shorts and a loose, white t-shirt.

I slipped on my fancy brown sandals and kept my hair in the bun.

I opened up the door and walked out straight into Tucker.

"Where are you going?" Tucker asked, stopping me.

"With you guys, I guess." I replied.

He laughed. "You're not serious. No way."

"And why not?" I folded my arms.

"Because I said so."

"Last time I checked, you don't control me. And it was your friends who wanted me to go, so if you have a problem with it, you can talk to them."

"Elise." He said. I began to walk away, until his hand wrapped around my wrist, pulling me back next to him. Only and inch a part. "This one is different, because my girlfriend is coming too."

"And?"

"She's..." He thought of a word. "Protective in a way. She can get jealous a lot, especially if she finds out you were in my house at all, cleaning or not. You're young, and she's not stupid."

"But there's nothing going on between us, so it doesn't matter." I pointed out.

"Just," He sighs. "Can we just like pretend we don't know each other? At all."

I smirked. "No problem. You know, if you think about it, we really don't know each other."

"I know you're a lightweight." He smirks.

"And I know you're an ass, but--"

"Then we know each other, clumsy." He shrugs.

 I sighed in defeat. "What's the plan then?"

"You'll ride with Ethan and Jay while I drive with Diana. If she asks, your with Ethan."

"Deal."

"That was easy." He raises his eyebrows in shock.

"Oh please, if I had a choice not to know you in the first place, I would've chosen it."

He places his hand over his heart dramatically. "Ouch. That one hurt, clumsy."

I laugh. "Good."

"I'll get you back, don't you worry."

"I'd love to see you try."

That's when the door bell rang, and then entered a high pitched, fast talking voice.

"Where's Tucker? We have soooo much to talk about!" She squeals. 

Tucker and I glance at each other. 

"It's better if you go down first." He says.

"Goodbye, stranger." I say. Before I turned around I could see a smirk appear onto his face.

As I walked downstairs, I couldn't help but to feel regret for agreeing to go on this trip.

"That must be him!" She voice says. I reach the bottom of the stairs which is when I saw the tanned, brunette who was wearing a short, pink dress over her swimsuit. Her hair was cut short, but it still looked amazing on her.

She was absolutely without a doubt, gorgeous. Enough to make my self esteem plummet.

Her happy smile soon turned into an angry look as her eyebrows furrowed and her smile fell. 

"Who the hell are you?" She spat. "And where's my Tucker?"

"I'm with Ethan." I said. "I was just trying to find some sunscreen. No success."

She sighs in relief. "Oh, great! Because I always did think Tucker would cheat on me, but I didn't think it would be with someone way lower class then me, I mean look at you, then look at me. I go to the gym everyday and I sun bathe whenever I can. And if we're being honest here, you're looking a little pasty."

I looked over to Ethan who gave me a look that said "just go with it".

"I'm here." Tucker said from the top of the steps. He wore a muscle tank with his swim shorts.

"Babe!" Diana shouted excitedly as Tucker made his way down the steps, not once glancing at me.

"So are we ready to go?" Jay questioned as he sighed, annoyed. Diana planted over a thousand kisses all over Tucker's face as he just stood there.

I smiled, even though I was angry. "Yeah."

"Great. We'll meet you there." Ethan said to Tucker. I followed Ethan and Jay outside into the blazing heat, without looking back.